County Championship: Sanderson puts Northants on top against Glamorgan
Vitality County Championship Division Two, County Ground, Northampton (day one) |
Glamorgan 203-7 (56.1 overs): Ingram 69*, Douthwaite 50; Sanderson 3-70 |
Northants: Yet to bat |
Northants 2 pts, Glamorgan 0 pts |
Northants made the most of winning the toss in bowler-friendly conditions as they restricted Glamorgan to 203 for seven on a rain-hit day.
Ben Sanderson (3-70), Chris Tremain and Raphy Weatherall combined to reduce the visitors to 27-4 inside 11 overs.
But the experienced Colin Ingram (69 not out) led a fightback in partnership with Chris Cooke (28) and Dan Douthwaite (50).
A late start, showers and bad light cut the day to 56.1 overs.
With the return of the Dukes ball to help the seamers, Northants, who restored Ricardo Vasconcelos and George Bartlett to their team, had no hesitation in choosing to bowl first.
Glamorgan were quickly on the slide as Zain Ul Hassan edged Tremain behind for one while Billy Root was trapped lbw by Sanderson for five.
Sanderson struck again when Sam Northeast (13) did not get on top of a forcing short and sliced to slip, while teenage prospect Weatherall produced a fine delivery in his first over to bowl Kiran Carlson for seven, the ball swinging away from a defensive push.
Ingram and Cooke dug in despite the interruptions, playing positively where possible, with Ingram belting Weatherall for a violent six over square leg to bring up 50.
But conditions were not easy underneath glowering skies as the rain arrived again in mid-afternoon and frozen spectators headed for home.
The weather cleared up for a long evening session, the sun making a surprise cameo appearance, but Cooke edged Sanderson to slip soon after the resumption after a stand of 69 with Ingram.
Douthwaite took up the reins as he dominated a partnership of 74 with Ingram, pummelling some meaty boundaries as Glamorgan enjoyed their best period of the day.
But immediately after reaching 50, Douthwaite was pinned leg-before by Weatherall and James Harris quickly went the same way to Luke Procter as Northants wrestled back the initiative.
Mason Crane stayed with Ingram to take his side past 200 and salvage some respectability from the day for the visitors.
Glamorgan included Hampshire seam bowler Brad Wheal, who has played under the Welsh county's coach Grant Bradburn for Scotland, on a temporary loan.
